Thread: How long should it take to "fine tune" a new razor?

I am having trouble with a new razor. I have a couple of 1/4 grinds but got this full hollow razor for travelling. I have set the bevel with a 1000 Shapton and it looks good. I am finding that when shaving that it is not quite there yet. I go to 8K then finish with a 16K Shapton then paste 0.5 and 0.25 diamond on a paddle strop. The shave is improving every time I go back and start over at 16K and work down but it is taking a fair amount of time. Pretty normal? Puzzled by this one.

Take Care,
Richard

I've never used or even seen a Shapton but I suspect that the jump from 1K to 8K might be the problem. It's likely that the 8K is failing to polish out the 1K striations, making the 16K efforts somewhat pointless. I would suggest either getting an intermediate hone or spending more time on the 8K rather than the 16K.

You might also try eliminating the 0.25 diamond paste. It makes some razors feel scratchy.

Originally Posted by Utopian

I've never used or even seen a Shapton but I suspect that the jump from 1K to 8K might be the problem. It's likely that the 8K is failing to polish out the 1K striations, making the 16K efforts somewhat pointless. I would suggest either getting an intermediate hone or spending more time on the 8K rather than the 16K.

I am using a DMT8EE so I thought that I would be able to make the jump because the DMT is pretty aggressive so I will try getting the intermediate idea a try.

Chimensch, I should have been more specific with what I meant by "tuned". I shave off 0.25 diamond a lot and it may be harsh but usually is very sharp. I get sharp first then worry about smoothness by stropping the daylights out of it! I am getting a shave that is leaving behind a bit more hair than I am use to. I am getting better shaves every time I go back to the 16K but I am on my 4th cycle and wondering what is going on.

Thanks guys,
Richard

Originally Posted by riooso

I am using a DMT8EE so I thought that I would be able to make the jump because the DMT is pretty aggressive so I will try getting the intermediate idea a try.

Chimensch, I should have been more specific with what I meant by "tuned". I shave off 0.25 diamond a lot and it may be harsh but usually is very sharp. I get sharp first then worry about smoothness by stropping the daylights out of it! I am getting a shave that is leaving behind a bit more hair than I am use to. I am getting better shaves every time I go back to the 16K but I am on my 4th cycle and wondering what is going on.

Thanks guys,
Richard

Richard, I'm a new guy, too, but I have been successfully going from a 1.2k stone (the DMT 8E) to the DMT8EE. The conventional wisdom about the DMT8EE is that it cuts as fast as a 4k, but finishes out almost as well as an 8k, so you should be good to go.

A couple of honemeisters around these parts have told me that the vast majority of new honers don't spend enough time on the coarser grits. I'm now not coming off my DMT8EE until the entire blade passes HHT. And I'm not coming off the 1.2k stone until the entire blade pops arm hair off with ease. Just another newb's point of view, FWIW.

I guess I don't understand something. Are you using Shaptons or DMT plates?

This is how I read your hone setup:
1K = Shapton
8K = DMT EE
16K = Shapton

I don't have a DMT EE, but from what I've read it's supposed to be a fast hone, so it migt be able to do the jump from 1k to 8K,
I've got a Shapton GS 16K and when I'm finishing a razor I tend to hone it to a point where I think it's shave ready for me, and the I'll do a test shave, if it's not up to my liking I'll go back to the 16K and give it a few more laps and a new test shave. I'll only move to a higher grit if I'm sure I gotten the most out of the previous hone. This might take a couple of shaves but I feel this approach is a pretty safe way for me at last.

Originally Posted by bjorn

This is how I read your hone setup:
1K = Shapton
8K = DMT EE
16K = Shapton

I don't have a DMT EE, but from what I've read it's supposed to be a fast hone, so it migt be able to do the jump from 1k to 8K,
I've got a Shapton GS 16K and when I'm finishing a razor I tend to hone it to a point where I think it's shave ready for me, and the I'll do a test shave, if it's not up to my liking I'll go back to the 16K and give it a few more laps and a new test shave. I'll only move to a higher grit if I'm sure I gotten the most out of the previous hone. This might take a couple of shaves but I feel this approach is a pretty safe way for me at last.

You read correctly. I am a cheap bastard and the 8EE is a leftover from my full pasted strop days. I substituted the 1.0 Shapton for the 1.0 paste on the paddle. I am trying to slowly go to stones. My next buy is probably going to be a 30K but I am trying to slide into this HAD thing.

Thanks,
Richard♦

I would suggest shaving off the 16000 until it is giving you the closeness you want then try the .5 and see if that doesn't smooth out the feel to where you like it. With less steel backing the edge than with the 1/4 hollows you are used to the .25 might be a little to much of a good thing on your full hollow.

Basically untill the razor gives a close shave off the 16000 (if it was anything but a DMT I'd say 8000) you are wasting you efforts polishing it up for comfort.

Originally Posted by riooso

I am using a DMT8EE so I thought that I would be able to make the jump because the DMT is pretty aggressive so I will try getting the intermediate idea a try.

Chimensch, I should have been more specific with what I meant by "tuned". I shave off 0.25 diamond a lot and it may be harsh but usually is very sharp. I get sharp first then worry about smoothness by stropping the daylights out of it! I am getting a shave that is leaving behind a bit more hair than I am use to. I am getting better shaves every time I go back to the 16K but I am on my 4th cycle and wondering what is going on.

Thanks guys,
Richard

Hello Richard. I would replace the diamond pastes with CrO. The CrO is the same micron size as the .5 diamond paste and makes your edge much smoother. The .25 diamond is a hit or miss and again I think the CrO would be a better choice. Don't worry about doing 4 cycles. I have gone back more than that with several of my stubborn blades.

bj